Debra Gasper

Debra Gasper, daughter of Dinah Gasper, is part of the well-known Teddy Weahkee family of Zuni artists. Debra's mother-in-law, Edna Leki, was the first woman allowed to carve in the Zuni tradition. Debra's husband, Ray Tsethlikai often collaborate on their pieces, which are primarily known for their depictions of frogs, eagles, and bears, featuring inlays of selenite, turquoise, jet, rose quartz, and amethyst. Debra and Ray further the family's artistic legacy by creatively incorporating silver inlaid eyes, heart lines, and dots into their work. Their frog carvings, in particular, showcase an evolution, with dots inlaid on the backs to suggest rain, and the frogs sometimes portrayed individually and sometimes in family groupings.

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